2 communities log their first homicides of the year

Logan Square and the Near West Side each recorded their first homicides of the year, a RedEye analysis of preliminary police data found.

On the Near West Side, a 19-year-old man was shot to death Sunday in the 1300 block of West Hastings Street, police said. The Near West Side logged 16 homicides last year, according to RedEye data.

In Logan Square, a 23-year-old man was fatally shot Friday in the 1800 block of North Francisco Avenue, officials said. Logan Square recorded two homicides last year, RedEye determined.

Citywide, gunshot homicides were logged in the last week in Auburn Gresham and Greater Grand Crossing, data shows.

March ended this week with 15 homicides, down from 52 homicides in March 2012. The tally does not include a man who was shot 20 years ago and died last month. RedEye logs homicides by date of incident, not date of death, dating back to 2007.

One homicide has been logged so far this month. Forty-one homicides were recorded in April 2012, RedEye found.